So we finally found out why Akshra has been so cranky for the last few days. Puja took a day off yesterday and took her to the doctor. This tme she was able to get to our regular Doctor, Chaula Parikh. The doctor observed her and told Puja that Akshra didn't just have an ear infection but her ear membrane had ruptured! Moreoever, the new doctor who we had seen last time had just come out of internship and had prescribed an incredibly high dose of the antibiotic amoxycillin. That was wreaking havoc with her stomach. And on top -- the antibiotic wasn't helping her with her membrane. Well, that was all quite horrible. No wonder the poor dear was such a problem child!

She also is in the 25th percentile for weight at only about 24 pounds. I cannot even believe it. She was 19 pounds on her first birthday and after 13 months she has just gained 5 pounds :-(

So, when Puja came out of the Doctor's office -- she realized that her car was missing. She panicked and on asking around realized that it had been towed. Even though she had fed the parking meter -- she apparently missed a note about street cleaning. What a scam. She had to call a cab and with a child in her lap she had to go to the car to get the registration and then go to the police office at the other end of the city and then take the cab back up to the tow pound to get the car back. If this were not enough -- she saw several missed calls from her office on her phone and some calls at home as well. So, she dropped Akshu and rushed back to office. So much for the day off :-(

Akshra has had an ear infection and the doctor gave her an antiobiotic (of course.) She has been misreable for the last few days. Terrible diarrhea and aversion to food and terrible mood. It has been excruciatingly difficult in the last few days. Puja has almost had no sleep and it is killing her.
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In general the last few months have been excruciatingly difficult. Sleeping problems, eating problems and mood problems. They say terrible twos are bad but we've almost felt them since she was a year and a half. Not sure what to do at this point.

Today is Akshra's 2nd birthday party. Though her birthday was on the 6th, we couldn't just get around to organizing a part. It has been quite difficult to get this party going. We have tried to keep it very simple and yet it hasn't been easy finding any kind of time. It is probably the last time we are having a big party with our friends coming over. We'll probably organize something smaller at our apartment next year.

So, Puja has been in Vegas for three nights now and we've been keeping Akshra here without her mother more or less just fine! She does get a bit cranky early in the morning specially when I wake up and sort of leave her alone. She likes to have someone sleep next to her so that she doesn't feel lonely or threatended.

Today is the big day! She is 2 years old. She was adorable today as she always is. She woke up very early and woke up very happy wanting to play and have fun. I was not out of the bed when she woke up this morning and she started leaving the room to look for me as she usually does. Puja had to tell her that Papa isn't up yet -- he is still in the room sleeping. I heard that and was strangely satisfied.
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Ravindra had come over last night from Baltimore and Sheru's family dropped by for some awesome Dal-Baafla lunch. We had a great time eating and then some wonderful time watching the kids fight with each other like crazy. Akshra and Ria have never gotten along and they fight with each other all the time over everything.
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We watched some tennis and slowly the food took over and we were dozing away.